War at Sea

War at Sea is a new series of one-off specials where each issue delves deep into a particular subject; from aircraft carriers, warships, submarines, navies and naval battles. Every edition you can be assured of 100 pages of interesting and informative reading, accompanied by outstanding photography.

WAR AT SEA

THE CHINESE NAVY TODAY

CHAPTER 1 Rise of the Dragon • CHINA now has the largest operational navy in the world, as President Xi Jinping strives to achieve superpower status by driving forward a military investment programme that only the United States and Russia can compete with. Moscow continues in its attempt to forge a military alliance with Beijing, but historical experiences of being economically subordinate to the then Soviet regime during the 1980s for raw materials is unlikely to see the People’s Communist Party accept anything more than a loose alliance with Putin.

CHAPTER 2 CHINA’S MODERN FLEET • CHINA shows no sign of reducing its investment in naval power. Over the past two decades, Beijing has funded the procurement of new vessels, including 40 submarines. This race to super-power status has seen the arrival of new destroyers, frigates and amphibious platforms as well as the introduction of unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence and the development of hypersonic missiles.

CHAPTER 3 THE SOUTH CHINA SEA • THE South China Sea is at the heart of Beijing’s economic expansion where Beijing operates an aggressive policy of military intimidation enforced by its naval forces. Across this critical waterway, China deploys Coastguard vessels and warships which carry out frequent interventions to warn foreign vessels, mainly warships, not to transit through the region - an area that includes an international waterway used by thousands of commercial ships every year.

CHAPTER 4 The Wolf Nation • CHINA’S naval forces are at the spearhead of Beijing’s economic expansion and President Xi Jinping sees his country as a ‘Wolf Nation’ powerful, strong, confident and ready to deal with any predators. But he may have underestimated the West’s resolve to face Beijing and challenge Chinese expansion. Washington’s approach will be aimed through diplomacy while military power will be deployed to back up the President’s position. President Biden is seen as the man who can get China ‘talking again’ and reignite the progress that the two countries embarked on a decade ago.

CHAPTER 5 The Threat to TAIWAN • THE tension and potential threat of conflict between China and Taiwan should not be under-estimated. Beijing views its national security as being intrinsically linked to the island and President Xi Jinping’s Chinese Communist Party has stated for more than seven decades that it will secure unification. The driving factors for China’s increasing impatience include the apparent growing lack of support among the Taiwanese people, particularly the young, for a union with China. While Washington continues its military and political assistance for the island, Xi Jinping’s ambition is directly opposed - he wants to secure his legacy as the Chinese leader who reunited the island.

CHAPTER 6 CHINA’S New World Order • CHINA is resurgent, but it is not just about power. Beijing wants to create a new-world order. Xi Jinping is a leader like no other, commander of a powerful leader and President of a super-power. After decades in the shadows of poverty and viewing itself as a victim, Beijing is demonstrating the capability of a nation that can build an economy that sits at the top of the world trade as well as field the biggest fleet. But in the West, there is growing concern about how China is extending its power. From allegations of internet spying and computer network attacks on the West, to human rights abuses as well as threats against Taiwan and sovereignty claims of islands in the South China Sea.